Strain Rate Effects on the Mechanical Behavior of Basalt Fiber Composites: Experimental Investigation and Numerical Validation

As a natural high-performance inorganic fiber, basalt fiber material possesses excellent weathering properties, such as resistance to high and low temperatures, salt fog corrosion, and acid and alkali corrosion. It also exhibits superior mechanical properties, including high strength and high modulus, making it widely used in military fields such as aerospace and shipbuilding. In this study, the mechanical properties of basalt fiber plates in different directions under various strain rates were experimentally investigated using an electronic universal testing machine and a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) setup. The results indicate that the basalt fiber plates exhibit a significant rate-dependent behavior and pronounced anisotropy. Based on the experimental results, the relationship between the strength values of basalt fiber materials in different directions and strain rates was established. This formula can effectively predict the mechanical properties of basalt fiber under different strain rates, providing reliable data for numerical simulations and valuable support for structural design and engineering applications under various strain rate conditions. The strain rate relationship developed in this study has been effectively validated in finite element simulations of low-velocity impact.